new life
Two days and nights
at Winter Quarter Farm’s
foaling barn
By Lenny ShuLman
PhotoS By anne m. eBerhardt
I
t’s a lot of this,” said Don Robinson, leaning against the wall
just inside the stall where a onehour-old foal, impeded by his
unusually large size, struggles
unsuccessfully trying to stand
for the first time. Robinson does
not attempt to help, his bemused
smile and calm demeanor a stark
counterpoint to the foal’s futile
attempts to rise, and the nervous,
sweaty mare lying on the stall’s
bedding, blood staining the bluegrass straw.
MarcH
2013 of copyright owner.
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The Blood-Horse./Reprinted
with2,
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Winter Quarter Farm owner Don Robinson (bottom)
and farm manager Ferran Robinson (left)
Sponsored by
MarcH
2,of2013
/ owner.
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new life
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newborns are often given enemas to unplug their system
and allow them to concentrate on standing and nursing
robinson, in his early 60s, misses nothing with his eyes but
moves not a muscle. he looks every bit a practitioner of Buddhist
philosophy, which he studied extensively as a young man.
“the older I’ve gotten, the less rush I’m in to fool with them,”
he said. “I’m more willing to wait and watch it unfold. the tendency is to run in and help, but they’re pretty good on their own.
Sometimes when you get in there and help, you’re doing it more
for yourself than for them. Less is better. Calm. Steady. Pay attention and let it unfold.”
robinson’s knowledge comes from generations of his family’s
having succeeded in the horse business, a tradition being carried on by his son, Ferran, presently replacing soiled bedding
with fresh, who will one day take over operating Winter Quarter Farm just outside Lexington. the proof of don robinson’s
knowledge is borne out by the small metal plaques screwed to
the wood molding outside several of the foaling barn’s stalls just
behind where he now stands. across the walkway is the stall
where Balance, Zenyatta, and eblouissante were foaled out of
Vertigineux, bound to be recognized as one of the greatest producers of our time. one stall over are plaques marking the birthplace of graded stakes winners Gabby’s Golden Gal and always a
Princess. on this night, always a Princess stands eight feet away
from robinson watching over her first foal, born 10 days earlier.
In the stall on the other side of tonight’s action shines a plaque
marking the foaling place of grade I winner Vicar.
on frigid winter evenings on through the temperate breezes
of spring, in foaling barns set back off dark, winding roadways
throughout Central Kentucky, farm owners and managers and
veterinarians congregate under pale lighting in the openings
of foaling stalls, watching and helping the miracle of new life
enter this world. From the barrel-sized chests of mares somehow emerge these 100-plus-pound packages of newly minted
thoroughbreds whose first steps and feedings are recorded in
the minds of all in attendance. the fortunate few, such as the
robinsons, will have stories to tell of these moments when the
horses mature into runners, graded stakes winners, or, as in
Zenyatta’s case, a legend.
the robinsons graciously opened their farm to The BloodHorse so that we may bring readers along as witnesses to what
happens over the course of two action-packed days at a farm
where thoroughbred life begins.
down in the morning and talk in general terms about
foaling. don robinson’s father, h. Burnett robinson, dropped out of school to work with horses and
assisted famed reproductive vet dr. e.a. Caslick at
Claiborne Farm before buying the land that became
Winter Quarter in 1948. his farm manager, Charlie
alsop, worked with the elder robinson 42 years.
“Charlie taught me the most about mares,” noted
don. “he taught me to watch. horses are all about
observation and paying attention. When I was a kid,
we had a small group of mares and Charlie knew
every one of them better than any vet could. he used
a teaser just to verify what he already knew.
“Foaling is the same. Just watch the behavior
changes. those old guys were awfully good at reading the signs when a mare is close.”
through an arrangement with hagyard equine
medical Institute, a hagyard intern lives in a house
on the back border of Winter Quarter. this year it’s
Bo rainbow, whose family owns a farm near ocala,
Fla. night watchwoman Kim hawkins has been at
Winter Quarter 15 years. the farm’s vet, dr. david Fishback,
usually won’t be present at foalings unless there is a problem.
he comes the following morning to examine mare and foal and
run lab work. While don’s knowledge is based on what veteran
horsemen from yesteryear imparted to him, Ferran has the advantage of that learning plus attending seminars and reading up
on medical studies and procedures. asked how he can tell when
a mare is ready to have her foal, Ferran said at the 11-month
mark, his attention picks up.
“Horses are all about
observation and paying
attention.”
– Don Robinson
Tuesday, Feb. 5
Because an overwhelming percentage of mares still give birth
at night for the protection offered by the cloak of darkness going
back to when all were in the wild, the robinsons have time to sit
30 / BloodHorse.com /
MarcH 2, 2013
Eighteen hours after giving birth, first-time mom Allumeuse
is turned out with her Mizzen Mast colt
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“The signals include the amount of
and her vulva looks the same as it has
milk the mare has in her bag,” said Ferfor the past month. He thinks she could
For expanded coverage,
ran. “Some will accumulate a month out;
foal tonight or tomorrow, but nothing
additional photos, and
others won’t start until 48 hours out. You
seems imminent. But that thought earlook for them waxing, which is a milky
lier
about the unpredictability of maiden
exclusive video, download
secretion like sap out of a tree. You can
mares is confirmed when night watchthe interactive PDF at
tell by the consistency that they’re getting
woman Hawkins begins her shift at 6
closer. Then, when you bring them into
p.m. and looks in the stall. Allumeuse and
BloodHorse.com/NewLife
the barn every night, you lift the tail to see
her 10-minute-old foal are lying on their
how relaxed their vulva is. You put your
bedding. She immediately calls the RobAvAiLABLe MArcH 4
hand on their hind end to see if they’re
insons, who arrive in minutes along with
softening their hind muscles to make pasvet intern Rainbow, who leaves a pork
sage of the baby easier. If she is hot and
tenderloin he is cooking for a dinner party
soft to the touch and the vulva is visually relaxed, those are your simmering back in his kitchen.
biggest cues.”
Don and Ferran take turns pulling the foal by his front ankles
Added Don, “Given all that, there is still nothing consistent; away from the wall so he has a better chance of extending his legs
the timing is so individual for each horse that observation is key. and standing up. The mare shows no signs of fretting or being
The best practice is to watch them all the time. Watch, watch, nervous, nor does she pay much attention to her first progeny.
watch. Look outside and see what they’re doing. Note any behav“Obviously, she did it on her own,” said Ferran, bringing reior change. One starts walking the fence; leaves the others. And lieved laughter from the small crowd at the stall’s opening.
even then, I’ve had mares do that stuff for three or four days and
The Mizzen Mast colt is very large with long legs, compromisit drives you nuts. The maiden mares in particular bear close ing his efforts to stand. Each try ends with his flopping back to
watching. It’s predictable, but it’s still unpredictable.”
the bedding. While some foals will aggressively start trying to
The Robinsons have identified two mares who are close to stand 20 minutes after birth, this colt tries intermittently, refoaling. One is a maiden mare, Allumeuse, who is carrying a grouping on the ground for awhile between efforts. Rainbow adMizzen Mast foal. Allumeuse, who was winless in six starts, is ministers a dose of banamine to the mare to treat inflammation
owned by Eric Kronfeld, the breeder of Zenyatta and the owner/ pain. Nearing 8 p.m., about two hours after the birth, Don debreeder of Eblouissante. On the other end of the spectrum is cides to step in and help the foal up. The colt stands for a bit but
Bright Feather, 24, whom the Robinsons bought out of the Over- is unsteady and falls again. But the next time he is helped up he
brook Farm dispersal in 2009. A veteran of the foaling shed, remains upright. Now his mother also rises, but the foal is takshe is the dam of grade I winner Albert the Great and two other ing his time in trying to nurse. Don takes the mare’s halter and
stakes winners. She is carrying a Cowboy Cal foal.
holds her steady while Ferran guides the foal toward the milk
At 4 p.m. Ferran checks the mares, who were brought up supply. He puts a couple of drops of milk on his finger and holds
about an hour earlier. Allumeuse’s hind end is cool to the touch, it to the foal’s mouth. As her foal explores her underside, the
The day-old foal nurses like an old pro as Allumeuse calmly acclimates to motherhood
BloodHorse.com / MarcH 2, 2013 / 31
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first-time mother objects
his bloodstream and he
vocally and also flinches,
gets protective immunity
complicating the foal’s
against those diseases.
quest. this dance continrainbow tests the coues for awhile, and the foal
lostrum level of the mare
loses interest, grows tired,
w it h a ref rac tometer,
and lies down again.
which looks something
don is not overly conlike a telescope. holdcerned. “his ears are alert.
ing the instrument up to
he’s got all the makings of
the light, rainbow detera healthy foal and looks
mines the mare has a norvery bright.”
mal colostrum level of 18.
the foal receives two
he explains that anything
enemas in an attempt to
over 15 is good, while levclear out his anal canal.
els in the 20s or higher are
don explains that a foal
exceptional. as all appears
of ten gets plugged up
normal, the vets head to
badly and won’t think
rainbow’s nearby home
about anything but that;
to try the pork tenderloin.
won’t try to feed until it is
But rainbow won’t be sacleared up. Ferran dons a
voring his cooking just yet.
pair of rubber gloves and
after the foal has sevbright Feather’s foal begins its journey out of the womb
digitally removes some
eral more unsuccessful
fecal matter from the foal.
attempts at feeding, Ferran decides the youngster needs some
nearing 10 p.m., the foal still has not gotten a hold of his nourishment and calls rainbow back to the barn for assistance.
mother’s udder. It is nerve-wracking for the less-experienced Ferran milks the mare by hand. the milk comes out readily, and
observers who stand around rooting for the happy event. rain- he gets 16 ounces in the first minute. the milk is tubed directly
bow’s dinner guests have arrived at the foaling barn instead of through the foal’s nasal passage into his stomach. the colt then
the dining room, and they include three other young vets. don lies down for a 30-minute nap.
is amused.
now nourished, he is soon up and nursing on his own, ener“Four vets at a foaling,” he said. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen gized and suddenly able to locate his food source.
that before.”
“they really need that in their belly to pick them up,” Ferran
rainbow checks the mare’s gums to make sure they’ve got explains.
color, indicating an ample blood supply to her head. She is not
throughout the night hawkins reports the foal is still a little
behaving abnormally. the placenta has been put in a nearby slow getting up so she helps him do so. She also notices that alred bucket to be kept until the next morning. If there is any lumeuse is cramping during the night, so she walks her in circles
kind of problem with the foal, the placenta will be taken to the in the stall, wanting to keep her moving and on her feet. By early
university of Kentucky diagnostic lab for evaluation. rainbow the following morning the foal is standing on his own.
explains the importance of getting colostrum to the foal—in
dr. Fishback arrives in the morning and examines the foal.
the months before giving birth the mare receives vaccina- usually the farm will await the lab results later in the day betions against rabies, botulism, and West nile and rhino virus. fore allowing mom and foal to go outside, but based on his exam
those antibodies get concentrated into the colostrum, the first Fishback gives the oK to turn them out.
milk she makes. When the foal nurses, that milk passes into
Feb. 6, 1 p.m.
The experienced mom is responsive to her brand-new son
32 / BloodHorse.com /
MarcH 2, 2013
With temperatures hovering north of 40, it is a
better-than-average February day for a trip outside.
the sun’s vitamin d is good for all. With Ferran holding the mare and assistant manager norman Ward
on the foal, mother and son emerge from the foaling barn and head for a paddock 100 feet away. the
foal is still attempting to get the hang of this walking
thing, and his stride is choppy and unsteady. once
in the paddock he knows what to do and tries to go
about nursing. allumeuse is still a bit touchy about
him exploring her underside and gives out another
short squeal and flinch. She tours the paddock mostly
walking, with her son in tow, now growing more and
more steady on his feet.
“It’s so good for the mare to get out and free up
all the nasty liquids that are still inside her,” Ferran
notes. “as she trots around, they run out of her. even
though it’s nice today, the ground is still cold, so we’ll
leave them out for about 40 minutes, or until they’re
ready to lie down again. If it’s a nice day going forward, we’ll get them out twice or even three times,
and in a week they can start staying out longer.”
Copyright©2013, The Blood-Horse. Reprinted with permission of copyright owner.
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“They really need that
colostrum in their belly
to pick them up.”
– FERRAn Robinson
meanwhile Ferran has been keeping a close eye on Bright
Feather throughout the day. each time he looks in her paddock,
she is standing with her two mates. he checks on her every 45
minutes and then, if she is giving off signals, every 20 minutes.
Ferran notes that the mare is dripping milk, one stage beyond
waxing, and his radar is up.
“When the sun is out, that’s when they can surprise you and
want to have the foal outside. She can be sneaky. her first foal
for us she had right after the night watchman left and without
showing any imminent signs. With her dripping milk, I have to
believe it will be tonight.”
Feb. 6, midnight
held up until surer hands can take charge.
Bright Feather, meantime, is munching through several
flakes of alfalfa that Ferran keeps delivering to her, enjoying a
well-deserved early morning snack. rainbow takes a colostrum
reading from her and it registers an excellent 25.
the foal looks well but is having trouble getting his right rear
foot placed flush to the ground, the result of a contracted tendon
not fully stretched out because of his positioning in the womb.
this is a common occurrence in newborns but somewhat complicates his clumsy attempts to nurse, and under Ferran’s guidance he is hitting every spot except the right one under his mother. he tries and tries, but sometime after 3 a.m. hawkins begins
nursing the foal from a bottle to give him some nourishment,
because he has the sucking reflex down fine. Close to 5 a.m. the
foal finally latches onto his mother’s nipple and never again has
a problem locating it.
Feb. 7, 2 p.m.
Bright Feather and her Cowboy Cal colt are led out of the foaling barn to the same paddock where allumeuse and her colt
were the previous day. that duo now watch from one paddock
over as their new neighbors arrive. the colt has a bandage on its
right rear leg to help him walk while his tendon stretches out,
which will take only a few days. Bright Feather, delighted to be
outside, begins romping around the paddock, the foal keeping
up rather well if somewhat awkwardly. he is doing increasingly
better on the leg already. as his mother grazes, he stands beside her, dozing off under a very warm sun. Ferran decides to
let them stay outside a bit longer than planned. next door al-
Bingo. Ferran hit it this time. hawkins calls Ferran just before
midnight to tell him Bright Feather’s water has just broken. Ferran, who lives on land contiguous to Winter Quarter, and rainbow arrive within moments. unlike the effortless foaling of the
previous evening, however, they encounter a complication this
time. after palpating to determine where the foal’s head is, rainbow determines that the foal is upside down, and
would have come diving out on the back of his head.
rainbow goes to his car and brings out the “o.S.” (oh
s___) kit used for emergencies. For the next hour
Ferran and the vet get the mare up and down multiple times and walk her around. Finally the foal’s
head comes around in the correct direction and its
orientation is such that it can be delivered normally.
Being an older mare brings its own bundle of concerns, just as the maiden mares carry theirs. Several
weeks now past the 11-month marker, everything is
progressing, but slower than normal. a decision has
to be made whether to try and stimulate the mare
with drugs so that she commences pushing sooner.
But that proves unnecessary. at 1:08 a.m. the foal’s
front feet come out, and soon he appears in whole in
the corner of the stall, one stall removed from last
night’s action. Ferran, who has helped pull the foal
out in conjunction with Bright Feather’s pushing,
removes the birth sack and wraps the foal in a towel
while rainbow moves to the mare’s head and neck
and begins examining her, checking her mucous
membranes to make sure they are still pink, and
The Cowboy Cal colt finally gets the hang of getting upright
checking her capillary refill time and pulse. Concerned about hemorrhaging and possible rupturing
because of the mare’s age, he has administered banamine and lumeuse and her colt return to their business, the colt now suckacepromazine, the latter to help with relaxation.
ling like an experienced hand. the first-time mother has also
the mare appears fine and, still lying down, constantly looks settled into her role and allows him to nurse without flinching
behind her checking on her baby. the foal, another larger-than- or vocal complaint. across a walkway always a Princess and her
average baby, is attempting to rise earlier than allumeuse’s, but foal watch the newcomers but soon return to grazing.
hawkins is lying down next to the foal keeping him wrapped in
Ferran studies Bright Feather with a touch of wonderment at
a towel, for the moment discouraging any attempt to stand. they her excellent condition. ridding herself of 125 pounds, she has
want to give the mare time to recover before she feels the need to snapped back and appears perfectly content. as opposed to the
get up and nurse. one hour after giving birth, Bright Feather is maiden mare, she has taken every step of the process in stride.
ready to get up, and the foal is allowed to try to stand. he gets up
her calm fits in perfectly with that of her handlers. It’s a
on his feet but is shaky, lurching toward the doorway and about good day for the two new residents, and the older ones, at Winto stumble when he is caught under his girth by a reporter and ter Quarter. B
BloodHorse.com / MarcH 2, 2013 / 33
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